“I have known Chris for many years, dating back to our days together at Jones Lang LaSalle,” notes Earl Webb, Avison Young's president of US Operations, in a prepared statement. “Chris has demonstrated a unique ability to negotiate complicated transactions, gain the respect of the largest and most sophisticated clients in the US and, most importantly, build and run a very successful brokerage business in Southern California. We are all excited about Chris joining us and look forward to sharing the successes in the Southern California region with him.”

Prior to joining Avison Young, Cooper, a 27-year commercial real estate industry veteran, served as CEO of Los Angeles-based Charles Dunn Co., senior managing director for Cushman & Wakefield in Los Angeles, and EVP at Jones Lang LaSalle in Los Angeles. Charles Dunn Co. did not have a comment for GlobeSt.com regarding Cooper’s departure by deadline.

Cooper possesses a wide range of experience in corporate services, leasing, construction, acquisition, sales, development and finance, and has an impressive track record of closed real estate transactions valued in excess of $3.5 billion, according to a prepared statement.

He began his professional career as a real estate lawyer, representing both public and private-sector clients for 11 years. He has acted as lead real estate counsel on numerous large transactions, including the development, leasing, acquisition, and financing of office, industrial, hospital and other health care properties.

Neil Resnick, principal and managing director of Avison Young's Los Angeles West office, says Cooper will further the firm's efforts to be a dominant force in major markets throughout Southern California. “His long history of leadership and the respect he has earned in the Los Angeles business community will be of tremendous value to our firm and to our clients,” Resnick says. “Avison Young's presence in Los Angeles has grown from three professionals last August to 29 today. With Chris' leadership, we expect to significantly increase our staffing level throughout Southern California.”

Avison Young opened its Los Angeles West office in August 2011, followed by a second Los Angeles office in December through the acquisition of Ramsey-Shilling Commercial Real Estate Services Inc. “The ability to partner with the best and the brightest professionals in the industry, coupled with the entrepreneurial spirit at Avison Young, provided an exceptional opportunity to be part of something very special,” notes Cooper in a statement. “Furthermore, the company's principal ownership model fosters a culture that always puts the client's interest first, which is of tantamount importance. Joining Avison Young will also allow me to rejoin forces with Mark Rose and Earl Webb. Having worked with Mark and Earl previously, I am excited about the opportunity to expand the company's proven approach to client-centric service.”

Over the past three years, Avison Young has grown from 11 to 28 offices and from 300 to more than 900 real estate professionals across Canada and the US.